I had a surprise today and received my 28-2 back from Cumming Custom Refinishing (CCR). It took awhile but was well worth it. I know that some members are wondering why I would refinish something other than in the original finish. Well.....about 30 years ago I had a 28-2 that had been refinished with a Nitex finish and carried it for a couple of years in my police career. For one reason or another (I can't remember) I sold or traded it for something else. I immediately regretted it and have wanted one just like it ever since. Last year I bought a 28-2 that functioned perfectly but was cosmetically challenged and thought it would be the perfect project for a refinish to satisfy my longing for the one I let go.

Well here it is.........






And here it is next to my original finish 4" 28-2.....

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Gone but not forgotten-RIP Dad

Nice job! Looks like you've got the best of both worlds, there. Don't be afraid to shoot that fresh new finish!

Personally, I don't think shooting the finish is all that good an idea . . .

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

So....what kind of finish is Nitex?

It was an electroless nickel finish that was being done on a lot of revolvers in Texas back in the 70's and 80's. The company was in Dallas but is no longer in business.

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Gone but not forgotten-RIP Dad

Nice finish!
What is wrong with something that holds up better?
Better then the nickel on my M28-2.

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Only difference Fool/Mule-ears

Good looking gun. You done good, now enjoy it.

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Eccentric old coot

I think it looks superb. I'd consider sending the T-grip in for the Nitex treatment, too, if the alloy would take it...

That's a nice looking handgun. A 4" M28 is one of my short list guns; to go with hy 4" M57!

Looks great and CCR has a great reputation for the work that they do.

You had me from Tyler T!

Seriously, that is a very handsome revolver. I'm not a traditionalist to the point of not appreciating a nice firearm because it looks different from when it left the factory. I like it enough that I'll keep your's in mind if I find a good one with exterior issues.

I'm not normally a fan of hard chrome on S&Ws but given the reasons you mention I think you did the right thing. Now you have a suitable replacement, the work looks good, and you should be happy. Enjoy it!

Beautiful revolver. I concur with your rational and decision to refinish it. The satisfaction of now having replaced something you regretted selling is a feeling many including myself well understand. Enjoy!

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<><

Big fan of the M-28 and having carried blued guns most of my career, I understand the desire for a durable finish....even for the sake of memories.....own 4 & 6" M-28's since the mid 70's and they are great guns....enjoy yours....be safe.

I've had semi-auto pistols refinished by CCR and was thrilled with the work but that's the first revolver I've seen and it's outstanding! I knew a lot of guys that had their working guns done in hard chrome in the early/mid 70s (especially when they couldn't get their hands on the 66).

Enjoy!

From CCR's site:

Q. What parts of my firearm will be refinished?

A. We will refinish as many parts as we can. We however do not refinish springs, or inside of the bores of barrels.

Obviously, your hammer and trigger were not refinished. How about the internal parts?

Nice work!

There are guns that need to be left alone, guns that need to be fixed, and guns that you can customize/improve with a clean conscience. The trick is knowing which ones fit in which category. Here, you have one of the latter, and did a superb job of getting it worked over. Well done!!

Sorry I'm not familiar with the Nitex finish but agree that it makes a handsome presentation for the HP. You could even have the adapter sand blasted using a grit size to match the finish on your revolver, I know its covered by your hand but its shiny as compared to the new finish. Yes, this is just one person's opinion about Your nice Revolver!

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Sam
S&WHF 333 S&WCA 2198

Sorry to be off topic but those Stocks on your Blued 28-2 are awesome!

Wow, that looks nice.

That is awesome and I would not mind owning something like that.

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Tony

I left all the internals alone. I had the extractor and rear sight done in their "House Black".

Thanks for all the positive comments. A model 28 should be in everybody's stable. I'll be out at the range with it this weekend weather permitting.

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Gone but not forgotten-RIP Dad

CCR does outstanding work. I first learned of them over on the Sig Forum about 7 years ago when their wait time was only about 4 weeks. I've only had one gun refinished by them, an old Sig P226 that was a LEO trade in. I was extremely pleased with their work, and the finish has held up tremendously for these past 7 years.

I don't know if I could bring myself to have an old S&W refinished, but everyone is different. I'm glad you are happy with yours. You've got a great pair of M28's!

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Rick
SWCA #2727 , SWHF #435

Exactly what I was thinking. Great grain on that set.

I Like it !

Represents the Model 628...a gun S&W never made but should have like the Model 612 and 618.

The reasons S&W never made a 628 remains a mystery but guessing it had something to do with their commitment to the Model 66 as the premier SS .357 LEO sidearm at the time and not needing an N frame SS .357 to compete against it.

Also guessing back then the added cost of making the 628 in SS probably was a wash compared to the man hours cost of the basic satin blue finish on the 28.
With the EPA and man hour difference today it would weigh heavily in favour of making it in SS but S&W has gone in the other direction making SS J frame 357's instead since the revolver market has shifted from larger 4" LEO duty guns to small but powerful civilian CCW snubs....

On a side note I had a chance to buy a hard chromed 3.5" Model 27 several years back for $600 but hesitated ...Still regretting that decision !


PS...What do they charge for that finish ?
maybe I missed it but is it a hard chrome or a satin nickel ?

I never really noticed until y'all pointed it out to me. I had to take it out of the safe and admire them. They're period correct but weren't original to the gun. I bought them off a forum member last year and didn't know how great of a deal I got until now.

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Gone but not forgotten-RIP Dad

Really, really pretty gun.

I believe their price was $319 but they were offering a 25% discount at the time. They offer the discount at various times of the year, you just have to keep an eye open for them.

Their website states:

CPII is a true composite plating process. It is an Electroless Nickel / Boron Nitride tank based plating system that incorporates Boron Nitride particles within the matrix of a phosphate system. CPII is the color similar to a Bead Blasted Stainless would look CPII will be available for steels.

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Gone but not forgotten-RIP Dad

Nice looking guns ! advice from me.......never sell a gun, always buy.

Thanks for the info,
While I kinda prefer SS over Nickel satin nickel is a bit more appropriate for a 28 somehow maybe because S&W did make small batches of nickel 28's back in the day and I believe some went to the Florida Highway Patrol "FHP" back when they wore Stetson hats...

Anyway they do a great job thanks again for sharing !

I have an "experienced" (worn) M19 2.5 inch that I wish looked like your M28.
I like it.

I knew the guys at the Dallas company that did that finish.
Was it called Nitex or Nitrex????

I seem to remember it had Teflon somehow in the Electroless Nickle process, not Boron???

Several of my buddies had their guns refinished there.

The other finish used quite a bit back in those days was Armoloy.

It was a hard Chrome process done by the company in Ft. Worth.

A lot of IPSC shooters had their frames done on their 1911's, many did the whole gun.

rettxpo

I think the new finish looks very good.

I also think leaving the hammer and trigger in the original finish was a good idea, I think the gun looks a lot better that way.

Very nice. CCR did a great job. Just how bad was the original finish & did the re-finish completely mask the old finish?

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Inconsistently consistent

Let us know how easy that front sight is to acquire. Looks like a nice refinish job that should last.

Looks great. How well is that finish supposed to hold up?

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Don't kiss smiling dogs!

The original finish had some rust but no pitting on it when I bought it. It also had a large area of bluing worn off around the barrel, high points, and the trigger guard. It wasn't horrible but just needed some TLC. The refinish covered all the blemishes and I can't tell where any of the blemishes were ever at.


I didn't get to shoot it this weekend (rain) but I can tell you that I've been doing some dry firing and working on my sight alignment and sight picture. The front sight is really visible and easy to acquire because of the "House Black" rear sight.


From all the reviews on another forum site it is said to very durable. Since its an electroless plating I suspect that it'll hold up much better than a sprayed on finish.

They have a limited lifetime warranty to the original owner that states:

Limited Life Time Warranty

Your firearm will be refinished by CCR (Cummings Custom Refinishing) with the very best materials available on the market today. CCR is so confident that this is the best product CCR gives a limited lifetime warranty against corrosion and peeling of the finish to the original CCR customer. This warranty does NOT cover normal wear and tear on contact areas and does NOT cover abuse, or damage to the finish due to neglect or accident; does not cover the firearm against damage, abuse or misuse; and does not include any incidental or consequential damages or loss.

Your remedies under this Warranty are limited to free refinishing by CCR of your firearm with the same finish and color as originally applied.

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Gone but not forgotten-RIP Dad

Thanks for sharing! I didn't expect to like it when I opened the thread, but I actually like it a lot!

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Brad

I had a early 70's Model 28 4" satin nickel plated at S.E. Davis Guns in Louisville, Ky. I had a set of Herrett's Trooper grips on it and that HP was one fine looker (and shooter too). Took it with me to MP School at Ft. McClellan, Alabama in 1976 and let a fellow talk me out of it. I may have to find a "beater" Model 28 and try it again!

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S&WCA #2815
Gun Scribe

Well, it probably won't rust.....

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Even older, even crankier....